Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Let me start out by saying that this story is purely a romance. As more of a plot-focused girl, I don't really do pure romance but I decided to give it a try. I found this when I was looking through the Goodreads' best books of 2012 nominations. Here's the Amazon blurb:

"No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again."

Despite my plot-relishing ways I found myself enjoying the book. It wasn't magnificent, but it was definitely interesting enough to keep me reading, and was pleasantly long to boot. I thought that the gossip about Echo was totally overdone (but then again, maybe high school is actually like that for people. Most books seem pretty intent on playing it up). Personally, I don't think I'd care if some random girl started wearing long sleeves. I mean, whatever. Why should it bother me? I also did not appreciate how her mother was portrayed as a crazed, dangerous lunatic. There is no need for more people to think that people who have psychological disorders are dangerous and out to kill everyone. It's ridiculous how many people have bipolar disorder! If every one of them were that dangerous then there would be a lot more murders going on. 

Let me conclude by saying that though I didn't totally fall in love with the book, and though it has some quirks, it's still a pretty good book. Not my favorite, but I wouldn't mind trying another one of her books.

The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

I think it will suffice to say that this is the continuation of The Girl of Fire and Thorns and is a significant improvement. I almost feel like I was too harsh in my review of the first book. But, I believe I have found the source of my discontent with the first book! It's simply a flawed decoy (and when I say 'flawed' I just mean that it could use some improvement). It seems to me that Rae Carson had everything planned out from the beginning but needed certain bits to have the story make sense. For example, the king. She couldn't exactly kill him off in the beginning--it just wouldn't work. But she truly intended for Elisa to be queen all along. Her love interest was also a decoy (unfortunately making her feelings come across as totally fake). Splendidly, it turns out that Carson does not, in fact, have difficulty portraying true emotions (at least, she doesn't seem to). So! This is a must read. But, be warned: there is a horrible cliff hanger and the next book doesn't come out until some time in 2013. Which could be December for all I know. (How do I get myself into these situations?).

Thief of Hearts by D.L. Snow

I suppose I could call this a trilogy but there's actually no reason for it to be split up (other than the usual offer-the-first-book-free-so-they-get-hooked-and-have-to-buy-the-others scheme). Basically it's just another Robin Hood spin off. Except this time around the main character is Little John. Or rather, a princess who is fleeing death and is disguised as boy who goes by the name of John. The most distinguishing feature of this story is actually the world it's built in. Snow has (apparently) written other books set in the same world that are spin offs of other well-known tales. This wouldn't be very relevant except for the fact that the stories of these characters intersect. However, I don't actually plan on reading the other stories.
All in all I thought the story was pretty solid. Some events were fairly predictable but it was so exciting that I didn't really take much notice. I think that's what really kept me interested (not to mention the cliff hangers). My problem with the story is that the author decided to include detailed sex scenes and the ever-present thoughts about wanting to have sex. That just ruined it for me. If it didn't include those it would be a perfect story for the so-called "young adult" age group. Unfortunately, it does, leaving it in the category of more adult books in which it really has no place. I simply don't think it's high-level enough in terms of characters, language, and level of thought provokation. From what I've seen review-wise, many of Snow's other books suffer from the same dilemma. But, as long as you don't mind the sex scenes (which are totally unnecessary, by the way) then give it a read.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Maybe I should just give up trying to write summaries all together... Here's the Amazon version:

"Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses. The one who has never done anything remarkable, and can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs her to be the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies, seething with dark magic,are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’ssavior, and he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do."

Now, based on this introduction it is likely that you are thinking (as I did) that this must be a terribly predictable and cheesy book. I am happily able to say that it is not, in fact, as terribly cheesy and predictable as I thought it was going to be. Yes, she is still this unoriginal-sounding 'chosen one', but at least there's the option of failure (unlike with most of these 'chosen one' stories) based on the numerous failings of her predecessors. I can also happily say that Elisa is not beautiful. Well, rather the commonly held image of feminine beauty. To be more specific, she is very, very overweight. Which, although admirably feminist of the author, is unfortunately not entirely logical. Personally, if my daughter were the 'chosen one', most of whom are doomed to terribly ugly deaths, I would at least make sure that she were able walk around and preferably be able to run. It strikes me as a glaring error. Additionally, I was bothered by her lack of reaction to one of the deaths that takes place in the book. You can say as many times as you like that a character is in mourning, but if you don't reflect that in their actions then it's entirely impossible to believe. I also had a problem with her husband. I just could not figure him out. He comes off as this extremely kind, noble gentleman but some of the things he does don't match up at ALL. I found him incredibly irritating and could not stand Elisa's reactions to him. I have absolutely no idea what kind of a person he was supposed to be; a jerk or a misguided victim? Am I supposed to hate him or feel bad for him? It drove me crazy! In fact, I think this might be the only book I've read in which a character just doesn't make sense. Usually the problem is unoriginality, not contradictions! I'm just at a loss. Anyway, moving on. 

I'm probably making this sound like a horrible book, but it's really not. I really did enjoy the book and appreciated that it wasn't COMPLETELY predictable--though that might just be due to how predictable Hero's Song was... I might end up reading the next book, but it all really depends on the first few chapters. We shall see.

Hero's Song by Edith Pattou

Hero's Song is about a boy named Collun and his search for his missing sister. Throw in a little magic, a few secrets, and people in pursuit and you've got the whole story. Quite frankly I found it to be extremely predictable and fairly boring. However, to be fair, I believe that's largely because this book is intended for a younger age group (which I didn't realize until I bought it). But at the same time, that doesn't mean that it has to be predictable. It does have some interesting characters but as a whole it falls a little flat. What especially bothered me was how unrealistic it was (ignoring, of of course, the magical element). The challenges they had to face seemed much too easily overcome and the description in general of their trials struck me as lacking. The pain of injuries, for example, just didn't seem real (for lack of a better word). It was just really hard to believe. The best comparison I can think of is good acting versus bad acting. Collun and company's hardships were just as fake as bad acting. I don't know that I'd call it a bad book, but I wouldn't call Hero's Song particularly good either.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

My synopsis would be WAY too complicated so here's the one from Amazon: "The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good...and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. 

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission...and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair...and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear."Well. I decided to read this book because it a. kept popping up in practically EVERY category of my Goodreads suggestions and b. because it was one of the few books in my recommendations that was rated 4 or more stars. While I wasn't a fan of the whole "talents of the bedchamber" bits, I thought the idea of getting pleasure from pain (by which I mean the extreme extent it is taken to) and Phedre's resulting conflicting emotions were very interesting. And I did love a certain grumpy-faced body guard. I will warn you now: the book is extremely long and very focused on politics. I spent most of the first third of the book skimming through and skipping large sections of political talking. But once you get past the first third of the book and a certain life changing event occurs, the story becomes terribly addictive. All in all I think that I would've probably appreciated this book better if I had read it later in life because the quality of the writing and depth of the characters and story certainly deserve a much more appreciative reader. It honestly went a little bit over my head with the amount of in-depth politics.

Enigma by Lindsay Buroker

Enigma, a short story, is the sequel to Encrypted and picks up after a very small gap in time. Rias and Tikaya are on a ship headed towards Tikaya's homeland, granted passage only for Tikaya's musical and linguistic background. The captain just so happens to have a priceless Nurian flute and wants Tikaya to figure out how it works. But of course, the ship is being pursued...
There's not much to say about this story due to its shortness. It's a nice little story but not much more than a filler in time. I'm assuming that there will either be a longer sequel or, probably more likely, this bit is necessary (because it establishes their destination; though I suppose you wouldn't really need a totally separate story for that...) for the inclusion of Tikaya and Rias in The Emperor's Edge series. I believe Lindsay Buroker did mention something about that... Anyway, it's probably not necessary to read but if you've been dying for more of those characters then this story has your name on it!
Side Note: No, I did not spend two weeks getting through this short story. I was, in fact (or am, I suppose), in the middle of a much longer, more complicated book. I'll probably be done with it in less than a week.

Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

The avian shape shifters and the serpent people have been at war for as long as anyone can remember. Nobody even remembers why it started in the first place; they simply fight to avenge their lost comrades and because they are raised to hate each other. With numbers dwindling on both sides, everyone is nonetheless skeptical of and surprised by the news that Zane, the leader of the serpent people, wishes to negotiate a peace treaty and end the war. Danica, the soon to be queen of the avians is equally desperate for peace and, like Zane, agrees to do anything for peace. But are they really prepared to do anything? Are they desperate enough for peace that they will do anything, even marry each other, for the sake of their people?
The story is told from the point of view of Danica, and, aside from a brief introduction, is entirely focused on the during and after of the peace talks rather than the fighting and then the peace. It's quite an interesting approach, one I wasn't sure would work out to be interesting enough due to the relative lack of plot. Somehow, though, Hawksong turned out to be a surprisingly sweet, if a little short, and worthwhile read. I honestly found it charming. I'm going to look a little more into this author's books and will hopefully find some other good reading material.

Fearless and Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer

So! In addition to the main series, of which only two books are out, Kemmerer also wrote a couple of short background stories: Fearless and Elemental. Elemental is told from both Michael's (the older Merrick brother) and Emily Morgan's (the name probably won't ring a bell but if you read Storm, it will suffice to say that she's Tyler's sister) perspectives. It takes place several years before Storm, meaning that their parents are still alive. Fearless is about Hunter, taking place before he moves to the Merricks's area. Both give some nice background information on the two characters and are definitely worth a read. They are particularly interesting in where they both end. I won't spoil why but as long as you've read Storm, you should be able to make the connection. Anyway, they're both extremely short and shouldn't take longer to read than half an hour a piece. They're not essential to the story line but these little side stories are always pretty interesting.

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

This is the sequel to Storm, following Chris' brother Gabriel (the fire twin. I personally think their names should be switched. The name Nick just seems a lot more fitted to Gabriel's personality) and the continuing struggles with the family's abilities. If you liked Storm, I guarantee that you'll like Spark as well. I appreciate that this book was about Gabriel because honestly, after the first book I was feeling like he was a total jerk. This helped explained some of that--taking the usual personality approach to characters associated with fire. Namely, short-tempered, frustrated, trouble-causing individuals. I feel sure that the author consulted some twins for this book (though she is kind of a character genius anyway compared to many authors) because, as a twin, I can say that their relationship was pretty spot on. I was extremely happy to discover that the quality of the book was no less than the first and was different enough from the first book that the romance didn't seem like a total copy. I don't really have anything else to add except my frustration that I have to wait until June for the next book to come out. This time from Hunter's perspective (which is totally necessary at this point).

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Let's see. How to describe this book... I suppose you might classify it as a paranormal romance. Or maybe just straight up fantasy. Though it is in our modern world so I'm leaning towards paranormal romance. Anyway, despite all the terrible creations that genre has been producing in the last, oh, 5 years or so, this is most wonderfully not one of those. The story is about Becca, a senior in high school who has suffered from bullying and, as such, is widely considered an absolute tramp around school. But the story begins (well, after the obligatory intro of course) when she saves Chris Merrick from two attackers who are beating him to a pulp in the high school parking lot. Fun! She drags him home to a not-so-nice welcome from his 3 brothers. Thus begins her involvement with the Merricks. Being vital to the story, of course the Merricks possess some... unusual talents. And Becca, as the main character, of course winds up getting involved in their problems. Onto the review!
Well, what can I say? I absolutely adored this book. Yes, I know these paranormal romances are usually really lame and cheesy, but in this case the characters were well developed, the plot was interesting, and the romance was not totally unrealistic and stupid. So, hey. Right there you've already got a way-above-average paranormal romance. While, yes, it did have the whole love triangle going for it, it just somehow wasn't really all that bothersome: surprising, since a lot of the time it irritates the heck outta me. I think I'm addicted to this author's books. Thank goodness this is a series! I don't know what I'd do if it weren't! Hopefully the rest will be just as good. I think they're from different perspectives so that in itself seems promising.

The Park Service by Ryan Winfield

I don't much feel like thinking up my own summary so here's the one from the back of the book: "In the distant, post-apocalyptic future, a fifteen-year-old boy stumbles on a world where humans are hunted by a mysterious Park Service and sets out to uncover who's behind the gruesome killings."

Let me start out by saying that this is not a bad book. Dystopian novels are really hit-and-miss for me. I either really love them, or absolutely hate them. This falls under the latter category.

So. You might be wondering why I even picked up this book if I was going to dislike it so much. The answer is that I just happened to see an ad for it that said something along the lines of, "similar to The Hunger Games." When I proceeded to read the synopsis that Amazon provides for items of the book-ish nature, it sounded pretty interesting. I mean, the Park Service. Doesn't that sound like some super interesting cult-ish group of ruthless killers? Alas, they were not (not that I'll spoil who they are for you). Besides, with the whole Hunger Games comparison and the mention of killings it sounded super action-packed and adventure-y! It was not that either. Instead it consisted pretty much of a lot of walking and meaningless talking. Not to mention an utter failing of romance with a supposedly-super-intelligent girl who turns out to be a total flake. Along with the main character of course. This seems to be another classic case of make-the-summary-more-interesting-than-the-actual-book. The beginning actually got my hopes up (the reason I bought it--I do read the beginnings before I purchase books). It just went downhill from there. The characters were also extremely lacking in depth. Even the main character! All in all I just really did not like the book. I most definitely will not be reading the rest of the trilogy.

Eon and Eona by Alison Goodman

Eon and Eona follow the story of (you guessed it!) Eon. Or Eona if you want to be technical. Eona is a girl who has been raised as a boy (Eon) since the age of six. In this Chinese/Japanese-esque world there are twelve energy dragons, following the twelve animals of the zodiac (I believe the so-called mirror dragon goes together with the dragon zodiac: it is sometimes referred to as the dragon dragon). There are eleven dragoneyes (people who possess the ability to use one of the dragon's power and in return, give that dragon some of their life force) at the moment, all but one for the mirror dragon who has been gone for over 500 years. Eona has the ability to see all eleven of the dragons (the mirror dragon not being present to be seen anyways). The only problem is that to be considered a possible candidate for a dragoneye apprentice (and the a dragoneye after 12 years have passed), you must be male. Thus the disguise. The story begins a little while before the Rat-dragoneye-apprentice-picking ceremony.

I feel sure that there was a shorter, much less complicated way to explain the plot but that will have to suffice because I'm not changing it. Anyway, these books are totally worth a read. What most stuck out to me was the impressive range and development of characters. Every even somewhat important character was developed beautifully. Each character had depth and was totally believable. My only criticism of them is that sometimes I didn't feel like they reacted as much as or how they should have. I think that mostly just came up in the second book though, the first book is pretty solid. The first book was definitely better than the second. Not because the second was just made to get more money (it was totally necessary to the story), but because the relationships started to seem unrealistic and it began to recede slightly into the realm of cliche. Several of the characters changed so much that they grew apart, and at the end of the book they seemed to suddenly jump back to their first-book relationships. The character change was perfectly fine, but it should have been followed through or at least a reason should have been given for the sudden change back. Despite those few problems though, the story was extremely enjoyable and engaging. It also held its own in terms of originality (at least based on what I've seen so far). Overall, these books would definitely be worth a read.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Hoorah for another story featuring an assassin! I think it's a very interesting topic with a lot of psychological depth to it. Anyways, this book features Celaena Sardothien,  a famous assassin who was captured and left to rot in the horrible soul-crushing-people-killing labor prison of Endovier. She gets dragged out by the Prince who offers her a once in a lifetime chance: become the King's Champion, serve for four year, and gain her freedom. All she has to do is is defeat the rest of the competitors through various tests of skill. But hey, she's the all-time famous assassin! It'll be easy, right?

Well, we all know the answer to that question. Onto the review!

Throne of Glass is very well written, interesting, and engaging. However, I still found it a bit lacking in some areas. For one thing, her character is a little confusing and flawed. She's played up as this extremely arrogant assassin who takes pride in her abilities and has a fondness for clothing. Then she turns out to be this soft-hearted soul who protests death and suffering and who certainly does not want to be an assassin. I suppose she could have changed while in prison, seeing the suffering that goes on there, but it's still just a little bit too contradictory for it to make sense. If she's changed into this angelic person she should at least feel a little guilty about her greediness and, as an assassin, she is much too squeamish about some of the death that happen. Yes, some of them are fairly gruesome, but she's an assassin for goodness's sakes! The romance bit also left much to be desired. It just seems so shallow and plain lame in so many aspects! I won't specifically say how it's flawed because I'd spoil it that way, but if you read it you should be able to see what I mean. Perhaps I'm just too used to those looming difficulties and trials of destiny occurring later on in book series, but I feel like Celaena's particular challenge came much too early and was a bit anti-climactic. I mean, it's hyped up to seem like it's going to be this supremely difficult and dangerous event, but it went by much to quickly. I was left thinking, "Wait. That's it?" I was very dissatisfied. But, despite all of the things I found lacking, Throne of Glass still turned out to be an enjoyable read and an impressive debut novel.

Robin: Lady of Legend by R. M. ArceJaeger

I've read and seen several spin-offs of the classic tale of Robin Hood so this particular book didn't strike me as particularly unique. Plenty of the Robin Hood spin-offs take one of the main characters (be it Will, John, or Robin) and change them a bit, commonly by making one of them a girl. This book is no different, making Robin a girl disguised as a boy for safety reasons. I found the characters to be pretty charming though somehow I doubt that Robin could have randomly had the skills needed to survive alone in the wild (namely her house-building skills. ArceJaeger pretty much just skipped over the difficulty of that which I think is kind of a glaring error). I appreciated that there wasn't really a love triangle, something that is all too often present in these stories. I really can't think of much else to say other than that I enjoyed the book but it wasn't particularly spectacular.

East by Edith Pattou

Basically, this is a re-telling of an old fairy tale--East of the Moon and West of the Sun I do believe (I may have mixed up the order there). The story mostly focuses on a girl named Rose and a mysterious white bear. A mysterious white bear that can talk, and looks somewhat intelligent. Not to mention acts very un-white-bear-like. Rose ends up going with him to save her sister (he offers to bring good fortune to her family if she goes with him) and ends up at a castle-y place where she has no idea what she's supposed to do. The story is told from several different perspectives (way too many in my opinion. I think it is a tad bit repetitive--in the beginning at least--and seems like a way to avoid having to give insight into each person's--or bear's, as the case may be--character and thoughts.) Anyways, I will say however, that it is quite interesting, if somewhat unconventional, in several respects.
First of all, the bear's thoughts are done in short, poetic chapters. It creates a very nice effect and reflects his struggle quite well (you'll have to read it to figure out which struggle I mean). I also thought the birth-direction-reflects-personality bit was interesting though I didn't totally love it. It adds an element of pre-determined fate and seems to me like a way to avoid having to portray characters' personality through description. Nonetheless, it's something I'd never seen before and it's possible that it was also a part of the original story. I felt like it should have been much longer. It was lacking a lot of the detail needed to make it seem that time passes and what makes these sorts of adventure books so interesting to me. I feel like it falls somewhere between a summary and a story due to the lack of details and it felt like it covered a few weeks rather than several years. The very beginning is also never tied up (it starts with a random girl finding a box containing the story). I found that in particular to be quite unnecessary and it could have been away around some sort of difficulty thinking of how to start the book (the characters' accounts began with things like 'I'm not quite sure where to start' and other similar things, making the beginning only a means to get to the story rather than having any real significance, especially without a return to it in the end). It also left me with lots of question that I feel would have been explained if the story were more detailed.
While I did enjoy reading it, I think East is best read by those who want a quick read and don't care for too many details.
Next I'll be writing about a spin off of Robin Hood.

The Fire Spirit Series: Books One and Two by Samantha Young

This series can be summed up pretty much as your average paranormal romance story, albeit more creative and featuring genies instead of werewolves and vampires. But other than that, your typical teenage paranormal romance. The main character is Ari: a senior girl in high school. Essentially, she feels alienated as the only one of her friends who doesn't know what she wants to do with her life (a big shocker considering most seniors don't know either). She's in love with her old best friend Charlie who has become a druggie because he blames himself for his brother's death. Then, lo and behold! Ari discovers that she's a genie on her 18th birthday and that a. her father isn't really her father, and b. it wasn't actually Charlie's fault that his brother died; it was an evil genie. From there the story procedes to include her mysterious uncle and her incredibly handsome (of course) protector Jai who she most certainly doesn't fall in love with due to her oh-so-totally-reasonable feelings for Charlie. And thus the story continues.
But seriously, the story is good but the execution is terrible (unless you're totally into the whole spineless-totally-useless-dependent-on-a-male-hopelessly-in-love-and-never-falling-out-of-it obnoxious Twilight girl thing. Which I'm not). My preference in books is that the story takes precedence over the romance. Especially the whole fall-in-love-at-first-sight-never-think-about-anything-but-how-sexy-he-is-even-if-you're-in-mortal-danger kind. Those kinds of books are so degrading! I mean, what girl wants to be like that? Women aren't mindless sex objects! Come on you female authors! You're failing your own kind here! It just drives me absolutely crazy. These people! And then you wonder why there's sexism. Honestly. Anyways, I also wasn't terribly fond of the numerous grammatical mistakes, misused words, and typos in general. It's possible that the author didn't have an editor (I guess you can do that now what with the whole ebook thing. I suppose that's what I get for reading one of those super cheap/free to prime members kindle books). Unfortunately this series is a waste of a good idea. I'd be totally psyched for a re-write of this book but for now I'm quitting while I'm ahead! (I don't even know why I read the second book. I suppose I thought it would get better. Plus I was curious about what was going to happen next: it was a bit of a cliff hanger). Anyways, next I'll probably go back to my goodreads recommendations. They seem to be a lot better than the Bookies thing I started following on facebook.

Scriber by Ben Dobson

Well, again I finished a book quite quickly. As I cannot even begin to think how to write a synopsis of the book, I will take the lazy way out and provide the Amazon version:
"Disgraced scholar Dennon Lark only wants to be left alone in his self-imposed exile—an exile that ends when a rebel army wielding impossible powers launches a series of brutal attacks on villages across the Kingsland. Forced from his home, Dennon is drawn back into a world he wants nothing to do with. His research into the kingdom's lost past—the very research that sent him into hiding—may hold the answers to a great many questions about the rebels. Questions about their shadowy motives; about their mysterious abilities; and about their ever-increasing numbers, constantly bolstered by those thought killed in their attacks. And only the King's infamous warrior niece Bryndine Errynson and her company of female soldiers trust him enough to help him find the truth before the rebels burn the Kingsland to the ground. Following a trail of historical clues across the kingdom and pursued by forces they don't fully understand, Dennon and Bryndine may be the realm's only hope. But in order to preserve the Kingsland's future, they must first uncover its past."

Onto the review: Though I usually end up reading books with female main characters, I did not miss that element in Scriber. Quite the opposite actually. Dennon proves to be a very interesting character in his unusualness, by which I mean his rudeness. He is very blunt with people and despises his work of dealing with the common, uneducated folk of the kingdom. The story itself is nothing to be ignored either. It is very unique (at least, I haven't encountered the idea before) and executed brilliantly. Dobson doesn't neglect any of the characters--all are well thought out and have a lot of depth to them. Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about the book. Great characters, great plot, great execution: a highly satisfactory read for those interested in other world fantasies.

 

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

The Vanishing Game is about a girl named Jocelyn and her search for her previously assumed dead twin brother. Stuck in foster care due to her insane mother, Jocelyn goes to her once-friend, from a previous foster care, Noah for help solving the clues her brother left behind. Problem is: ast time she saw him he told her he'd kill her if he ever saw her again.
Well, I finished that one quickly. I was too creeped out to go to sleep before I finished it, and I must say, it reminds me a fair bit of Going Bovine (if you've read that). Now, I don't normally go for this sort of creepy book (unless you count the Lois Duncan phase I went through) but it sounded so interesting that I just had to read it. I really enjoyed the book (the ending totally blew my mind) and it is totally worth a read, but I did have a few problems with it.
First of all: A boy and a girl CANNOT be identical twins. If they were they'd have to be the same gender. Not to mention that fraternal twins are only as related as a brother and sister. Now, I don't know if this was intentional or not because this was coming from a younger Jocelyn, but either way, it bothered me. Secondly, in my experience girls do not have Adam's Apples. Of course, I looked it up to double check and the website I looked at said that it is possible for a girl to have one, but seriously not common. However, the way that bit was written makes me think that the author didn't know that tidbit of information. Thirdly, I totally hate the way Jocelyn totally drools over Noah and, connected to that, the way Noah is all like, 'I'll handle these dangerous bits for you!' and Jocelyn is totally useless. Not to mention the way that he ends up solving so many of the puzzles. But anyways, despite all of its flaws, I'd say that The Vanishing Game is a good book, especially good for a debut novel.

The Rain Wild Chronicles: Books One and Two by Robin Hobb

The Rain Wild Chronicles is most strongly attached to The Liveship Traders Trilogy, but is also attached to all of Hobb's other books set in the same world. They continue the story of the serpents from The Liveship Traders Trilogy and their transformation into dragons--or semi-dragons you could say. Due to their late cocooning and old age, most of the serpents dies and the ones that didn't emerged incomplete and lacking many of their memories. Unable to fly and care for themselves, they spend years at the mercy of the rain wilders, all the while suffering and dying from the poor conditions and lack of food. Eventually they decide that they must leave and search for the ancient Elderling city of Kelsingra. They manipulate the humans into sending 'keepers' and hunters for the dragons as well as a ship to lead the way. However, rather than totally focusing on the dragons, the story line mostly follows the humans who accompany them.
While I think the idea is wonderful and has lots of potential, I was disappointed to find myself getting bored. When the latest Emperor's Edge book came out I was so excited to read it that I put the first Rain Wild book on hold and read the entire Emperor's Edge book almost nonstop. It was when I returned to this series that I realized just how less exciting the series was. Compared to Hobb's other books, I thought this series was a bit of a let down. It's also possible that after reading Hobb's books for such a long time (I've been on her books for a while since I felt the need to follow up on every single loose end) I've just simply had enough. This is not to say this series is bad; I just feel like it's time to move on. At this point I don't think I'll be reading the next book, especially since the fourth isn't even out until February, so I'm just going to quit while I'm ahead. So expect my next review to be on a book from a totally new author.

Blood and Betrayal by Lindsay Buroker

Hey, look what just came out! The Emperor's Edge Book 5! This time we get a look from Maldynado's perspective and learn a bit about his family. With Amaranthe out of the picture (remember her fall from the dirigible), Maldynado steps up to the plate as leader of the group. Well, rather, he's put in charge. But he rises to meet the challenge nonetheless. There's not much more to say about the book (honestly there hasn't been much to say about any of these past Emperor's Edge books since they're just a continuation of the story) other than what I've been saying before: good book, and it keeps up the quality of the story. The one thing I will say differently about this book (though I believe it applies to Buroker's other books as well, including the ones in this series) is that she overuses the word 'behoove'. Perhaps it wouldn't feel quite so overused if it were a commonly used word, but as it's not, it feels overused. Well, if you've enjoyed her other books I'd say you'd like this one too. Buroker is going to write a sequel to Encrypted next but EE#6 will be coming out shortly afterwards (and she plans to connect the two so I'd say it's almost like the next book in the series anyways). She plans to have them both out sometime in 2013 (I've gotta say, she is one fast writer). If you can't wait that long to hear from more about her books you should like her on facebook--she has contests and updates on what she's working on.

The Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb

Due to travel and a busy summer in general I haven't had a lot of time to read, so it took me a while to finish this trilogy. It comes between the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man trilogy. I was mistaken in my earlier comment that this trilogy was about what the Fool was up to during the time gap; really it focuses on the Vestrit family in Bingtown (and a few other people in the general area) and their unique liveships. Though all of the three trilogies can stand on their own, I think they are best read together, and in order. This means taking a break from Fitz's life for a while and working on this story line. It fills in quite a few gaps in my knowledge from both the first and last trilogy and is a worthwhile read regardless; just as good as Fitz's story. Having read all three of the trilogies I can now say that I'm glad to have read them all but I'm still left with questions about the future. But all is not lost! As I have recently discovered, Hobb has written more books set in the same world: The Rain Wild Chronicles. From the description of the first book it looks like it takes place either towards the second half of the Tawny Man trilogy or long after. I will begin the series as soon as I can but first I must complete my summer reading. I may or may not evaluate those books on here but if I'm a long time in posting again, that's probably why.

The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb

So, I've decided to do trilogies all together instead of doing each individual book. Unless of course the first book is really terrible and I don't plan on reading the rest. Or, I suppose, if not all of the books are out yet. In any case, let the review begin!
This trilogy follows the Farseer trilogy, continuing the story of Fitz. After I had already started reading it, I discovered that this is actually the third trilogy following the story line. The second one, I believe, follows the Fool for some, or perhaps all though I doubt it, of the fifteen year gap between the end of the Farseer trilogy and the beginning of this one. Because the second trilogy doesn't follow Fitz, it isn't necessary to read it, though it would probably give more information about some of the events in this trilogy. I'll be reading it next so I'll have more information then.
I was impressed at how seamlessly Fitz's story continued despite the fifteen year gap. Unlike many lengthy series, the continuation of Fitz's story did not seemed forced at all. It was continued simply because not all of the loose ends had been tied up. Really all I can say is that I enjoyed the whole trilogy and that I hope the Fool's story during the fifteen year gap is just as good.

The Farseer Trilogy: Books Two and Three by Robin Hobb

Again, as I have found myself doing a lot lately, I will forgo a lengthy description of the book. All that you really need to know is that it continues the story of Fitz and gets a LOT more exciting (not that the first book wasn't exciting--it just gets more exciting).
I liked both of the books very much and am pleased to say that the quality of the first book continues through the second and third. I only have a few complaints about the book. At the beginning of each chapter there is an italicized section that provides mostly information about the future (for example some of it is Fitz's writing--not prophetic, just excerpts of what he will write in the future--about what has/will happen in a certain season/year with the raiders). I eventually got irritated because it narrows down the field of things that could happen during his adventures. Along the same lines, I also disliked the epilogues for books one and two because it did the same thing. The last epilogue was the only one that was okay because it's the end of the story (ignoring the fact that there's a follow-up series. But I think that takes place 15 years later and after the epilogues take place so it really doesn't matter anyways). I also had a problem with some of the characters--the female ones actually: Kettricken, Molly, and Starling (a later character). They drove me absolutely INSANE. I felt that Molly became way too important to the story (Fitz, rather) and her character was just bland! And Kettricken: so MOODY! Starling... She was just way too OBNOXIOUS. In any case, those are pretty minor irritants and the story is still plenty good (though I do wish that there was more information about the strange city in the third book...). I was relieved to have finally finished the trilogy (only because the books are each so LONG) but I might just have to read the next series. It's too tempting to resist. Oh! And my favorite part of the entire trilogy was probably the last paragraph of chapter 40 of the third book. I was so pleased. :)

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

I won't bother with much of a summary (as most of the book is about the boy Fitz growing up and learning new things) other than to say that Fitz is the illegitimate son of the crown prince and as he's growing up in the book, he faces a lot of challenges.
When I look back on the book, I'm surprised at how not-boring Hobb makes Fitz's aging process. Usually authors either skip the main character's early life, speed though it and don't do it justice, or make it extremely long and boring. The most exciting point in this book comes towards the very end but I didn't feel at all frustrated at the time it took to get there, probably because of how much care was taken to give Fitz a background and establish the other characters in depth. I believe that the main function of this book was to create a solid foundation for the rest of the story to build off of, and it was accomplished marvelously without sacrificing entertainment. I've already started the next book and it looks to be even better than the first! All I can say is that passing this trilogy up would be a terrible mistake!
Note: I might combine the next two books into one review.

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Janelle's life is fairly normal: she has a crush on a boy, an ex-friend for an enemy, a best friend, and an average job as a lifeguard. It is normal, in fact, until she gets hit by a car and dies; and gets brought back to life by--a stoner at her school? Add to that a bunch of mysterious deaths and a countdown to who-knows-what and you end up with a life that is certainly not normal. But why, and how, was she brought back to life and what is this mysterious countdown to?
I thought Unraveling was a good read. It has an engaging plot and interesting characters and relationships. At first I was worried that it was going to be another lame teen romance with little involvement in the plot but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not. It's also nice to have a previously-unknown character become a big part of the plot. I was disappointed, however, at the lack of information given about Janelle's best friend Alex. He is present during the entire story yet we never really learn anything about him other than his intimidating mother and his role in Janelle's life. The information given about him is equivalent to that of a much less important character. I was really hoping there would be some insight into his character but it never happened. I believe that Elizabeth Norris plans to make the book into a trilogy but I'm worried that they are going to be written just to make more money and to drag out the story for as long as possible because there really didn't seem to be much more to write about at the end of the book. Hopefully Norris will surprise me and pull off some really excellent sequels. In summary I'd say that Unravelling is enjoyable and worth a read if you like that kind of story.

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

Emma is a scholarship student stuck at a school full of snobbish rich kids. Her miserable school life is only made worse by the fact that her roommate--the other scholarship student who is Emma's only possible ally--dislikes her. That combined with the wrath of the queen-bee Elise leaves her with just a leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre to keep her company. Little does she know what those old pages hold...
Though the book had great potential with the interesting idea of going into a book, Mont unfortunately did not do a very good job in the execution. In addition to way too much cheesy spiritual junk (not that I have anything against spiritual stuff--it's just that it was unskillfully thrown in in an attempt to explain certain events in the book), the story seemed somewhat pointless. I think Mont was so intent on using her interesting idea that she totally ignored the rest of the story. It was like two stories that did not fit were slapped together to create one. Add to that a melodramatic, cliché love story and you end up with a big mess. I'm not saying that it's totally unenjoyable, just that it is very flawed. I would absolutely love to see Mont's idea executed well (I suppose a similar idea is used in Inkheart... I'll have to re-read that one) but the story just didn't quite cut it for me, which is such a shame. Mont is planning to write two more books to follow this one, but based on the summary, the next looks like it will be a repeat of the first, just with another book. I might have been inclined to read the sequel if there had been a hint dropped about why this happened to Emma, but as it is I don't plan on reading any of the others.

The Mistborn Series: Books Two and Three by Brandon Sanderson

Out of the sheer exhaustion of my mind due to the reading of these two books I have decided to clump them together and to omit summaries of what they are about (they are continuations of the series anyways). If you want to figure out all of the secrets from the first book (not to mention the undermining of everything you thought you knew), then reading these books is a must. I have never read a book/series that has thrown so many surprises around before (I know I said that about The Emperor's Edge series, but the surprises in these two books easily top those). Anyways, the books are incredible. The characters continue to develop throughout the books quite believably and several new characters are introduced. I personally felt overwhelmed by the huge number of surprising events but I thought the books were enjoyable nonetheless. There is a fourth book, but the first three pretty wrap up the story very nicely (except for a bit of a hint dropped at the end about a discovery that still hasn't been made). I'd say that if you've read the first book and liked it well enough, you'd be missing out not to read these as well if only to have everything you thought you knew turned upside down and become something totally different.

Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

In an oppressive society under the immortal, tyrannical Lord Ruler, nobles and skaa coexist. The nobles need fear little as long as they do not defy the Lord Ruler. The skaa, however, are essentially slaves, condemned to miserable lives due to the actions of their ancestors. Vin, a girl in a thieving band of skaa, has a special ability which she calls Luck. Without it she would have died long ago. Kelsier is something of a hero. He is called the survivor and known to all of the skaa. His goal? To cause as much trouble as he can, and for his latest plan he needs a team. Little does Vin know that she's going to become involved.

I took a bit of a gamble on this book. I usually don't read fantasy books that are quite this obscure (and by obscure I mean with extremely different, elaborate societies and totally different worlds). But this turned out quite well. I was pleasantly surprised that I could follow along with all of the invented terms and such because they were explained adequately. The story is told from mostly Vin's point of view, but also Kelsier's and others' as needed. It is done quite proficiently, as each change of view reveals information that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise. The book does start off in that mysterious way that leaves you completely confused, but everything is explained quickly enough for it to add to rather than detract from the story telling. What I loved the most about the book was the creativity of the skills that Vin has and the clear descriptions of their use (no, I will not expand on that. I don't want to spoil the story). Vin's and Kelsier's personalities are developed very nicely and the change is noticeable (though that is probably made more obvious by Vin's commentary now that I think about it...). But in any case, I enjoyed the story and will probably read the next one. Stay tuned!

Encrypted by Lindsay Buroker

Language expert Tikaya Komitopis is gifted. So gifted that she was recruited to be her country's cryptanalyst. With the war finally coming to an end and her skills no longer needed, Tikaya returns home to live in peace. For a year. Then she's swiped from her home, kidnapped by Turgonians. Turgonians who are perfectly aware of her role in the war, a role that prevented their complete win. But now that they've found her, they need her help. And will get it whether she's willing or not.
Set in the same world as The Emperor's Edge, Encrypted holds much of the same charm. An intelligent woman, her intelligent male counterpart, an interesting plot, what's not to like? I had a great time imagining all of the interesting places and events but the best part was probably making all of the connections to The Emperor's Edge series. It gave me a lot of insight into some of the stranger parts of the series. I totally recommend reading both this book and the series, because neither one is as satisfactory alone as with the other, even though they can be read independently. This book takes place roughly 15 years before The Emperor's Edge but both include Sicarius as a character. In any case, I found Encrypted very enjoyable and expect Lindsay Buroker's other books to be just as good.

Conspiracy by Lindsay Buroker

Conspiracy picks up right off from where the last one left off: preparing to rescue/kidnap the emperor. Of course it will be extremely dangerous and tricky, but the team has Amaranthe to cook up some crazy plans (as usual). In addition to the usual crew, there's one more addition for their latest adventure. This time we hear the story from Akstyr's point of view (and Amaranthe of course), and get some more information about his past. The next book is going to be Maldynado's point of view. I'm hoping the last one will be from Sicarius' perspective (that would be SO incredibly interesting).
Something I need to say upon reflection of this book: Lindsay Buroker certainly has knack for tossing in ridiculous things without making them seem totally unbelievable (remember the kracken? This time it's more extreme). Perhaps it has something to do with Amaranthe's incredulous reactions to these bits... anyways, as per usual, this book keeps up the quality of the previous books. It just came out recently though so you're going to have to wait a little while for the next one. Oh, and unfortunately this one ends with a cliffhanger. An EXTREME cliffhanger. So, if that's going to absolutely kill you I'd say to wait a while before reading this one (of course I would never be able to follow that advice so it's totally up to you).
I also discovered that the first book (I'm not sure if the others are going to be done as well) is coming out chapter by chapter as a free audio recording. You can listen to it here.

Deadly Games by Lindsay Buroker

In the third book of The Emperor's Edge series, all of the old characters are back. This time the second-character-focus is on Basilard. The book starts off with everybody on vacation. However, their well deserved break is short lived. Training with Sicarius at the location of the soon-to-occur Imperial Games (essentially a smaller, deadlier version of the Olympics), Amaranthe discovers that athletes are disappearing! What does she do of course? Cut short everyone's vacation and go off in search of the missing athletes!
Deadly Games maintains the quality of the previous books in the series, continuing the character development and revealing more about the characters' pasts. One of the more interesting bits of the book is the relationship that develops between Akstyr and Basilard. I don't really have much more to say except that the book is just as enjoyable as the prior books and the ending will leave you wanting more (luckily the fourth book just came out a couple weeks ago so you won't have to wait).

Dark Currents by Lindsay Buroker

Amaranthe, Sicarius, Books, Maldynado, Akstyr, and Basilard (one of the later additions) are back in Dark Currents, the sequel to The Emperor's Edge. A solid group that runs from the law while trying to redeem themselves, the Emperor's Edge stumble upon a worthwhile venture. Tainted water and dead bodies soon have them trekking off into the mountains searching for the source, discovering more about each other as they go.
Buroker did not disappoint in this fantastic sequel. The known characters are still beautifully portrayed and all of the new ones intriguing as well. As far as character development goes, the book is still focused primarily on Amaranthe, but on Books as well. We find out more about Sicarius's back story and his and Amaranthe's relationship continues to develop. Buroker also sheds some light on Basilard and his country, and Akstyr's magic is put more to use.
All in all I found the book to be engaging and unlike a lot of sequels, it is no less of a good book than the first.
As a side note, you can find out more about Lindsay Buroker and her books here.

The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker

Stuck in a patriarchal society, all Amaranthe Lokdon has ever wanted to do is be a good enforcer (essentially a police officer), doing her job and getting the occasional promotion like everyone else. Easily one of the best enforcers around, Amaranthe finds herself stuck with the rookies. After an impressive display of justice the emperor just happens to see, she suddenly finds herself with the opportunity she needs. All she has to do is complete one simple task: beat the notorious assassin Sicarius at his own game. But with more going on than Amaranthe ever thought possible, it's not long before she finds out who the true enemy is.
The first thing I noticed about this book was the superb writing. It made me realize how long it's been since I've read a really really good book. When I pick a book to read I usually disregard the writing style completely (unless it's absolutely atrocious), so it was a pleasant surprise to see the story unfold with such beautiful writing, and even better: the plot was great as well. The story was incredibly engaging and I stayed up way later than I should have to finish it. The only problem I noticed about the story was that there were almost a bit too many near escapes made on the part of Amaranthe, but she is quick witted enough for this not to be too big of a flaw. My favorite part however was not the writing or the plot, but the characters. Amaranthe is a truly intelligent woman, which made me realize how many of the other books I've read are inconsistant with intelligence level (i.e. when characters figure out a bunch of difficult things and then get stuck on the most obvious bits of all). Buroker also managed to pull of Amaranthe's intelligence level without making it totally unrealistic and making her all-powerful (though it was a bit of a close call with the almost excessive amount of escapes from near death experiences). My second favorite part about Amaranthe is that she is almost OCD. That truly shocked me (and excited me at the same time). I don't usually see authors include such specific character information like that unless it's totally essential to the character (which it was not in this case. She could have made it through the story events without that bit of OCD perfectly fine). But it's not just Amaranthe who Buroker portrays in such depth, it is the majority of the characters. They each have their own distinct personalities that make them so lovable (or hatable). Another thing I admire about the characters: none of them are completely helpless. I appreciated that most in one particular character that I won't spoil for you.
All in all: Fantastic book. I think most people (at least anyone who likes any of the other books I've reviewed) would enjoy this immensely. I only hope I can find another book just as good (of course that's after I read the rest of the books in the series).

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Betraying Season, the sequel to Bewitching Season, features Pen (Persy's twin sister), on her trip to Ireland where she seeks to remedy her lack of magical knowledge while she stays with Ally (her once-governess). Left to her own devices due to Ally's painful pregnancy, Pen is delighted to encounter the grand Lady Keating, who, in addition to a daughter, just so happens to have a handsome son named Niall. What could possibly go wrong with such a charming family?
I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't so different from the book before it. Pen is portrayed as the strong flamboyant twin in Betraying Season, but she appears much weaker in the sequel. The book blatantly states that Pen has decided that the London season is tiring, which almost contradicts her behavior in the earlier book, considering all her earlier excitement about coming out into society. Niall is somewhat unoriginal. Charming and handsome, he is your every day attractive male. The only real interesting thing about him is the conflict he faces, which he deals with none too intelligently. I'd say that the more minor characters were much more exciting: Doireann (Niall's sister), Cornwobble (the fairy creature who lives in the cellar), and Eamon Doherty (one of Pen's fellow magic students).
All in all I'd say that the book was enjoyable, but somewhat unoriginal. The main characters are pretty standard, and Pen somewhat changed. However, if you liked the first book, you'll probably like this one as well as it is the same type of story.
Note: Beginning with this review I'm trying to be a bit more critical of the books. I figure that if all I give is praise, it's not a totally valid review. My point in mentioning this is that you shouldn't think this book is any worse than the books I reviewed before it, I just failed to include enough criticisms in the others.

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle

Well, I must say that was a delightful read! Though somewhat predictable, the many events Percy (Persephone), her twin Pen (Penelope), their little brother Chuckles (Charles), and the enchanting Lochinver go through to find the kidnapped governess Ally are extremely engaging and well told. The combination of the search with Percy and Pen's coming out season adds even more excitement to the story. All in all the wonderful characters and engaging plot make it a worthwhile read that goes right along with all of the other books I've reviewed so far.

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Princess Ben is a wonderful little book, breaking away from the norm of a beautiful female lead while incorporating little bits of many widely know fairy tales and fables (which I found utterly charming). Spared from death by having to stay home sick in bed, Ben (short for Benevolence) soon finds herself the sole heir to the throne, currently being maintained by none other than the ruthless Queen Sophia due to her husband's tragic death. A spoiled little glutton of a girl, Ben is now faced with a demanding life of court rules, endless dancing, and limited amounts of food under the Queen's care. Left broken hearted by the kingdom of Drachensbett's slaughter of her mother, father, and uncle (the king), Ben has to get her priorities straight. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained as well as some interesting characters along the way (not all of them human either). Princess Ben is an enjoyable read that's not too heavy on the intricacies of world building, but nonetheless creates a believable (in terms of fantasy of course) and charming story.

A Few of My Favorites

I haven't actually read anything yet for this blog but I wanted to get some books up as soon as I could, so I'll just be giving a few of my favorite fantasy books.
First of all, though if you like fantasy you've probably already read them, we have the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. It features a girl named Alanna who wants to become a knight. Unfortunately, women aren't allowed to fight so she is sent off to a boring life. However, she conveniently has a twin brother who is being sent off to become a knight, so what does she do? Switch places with him of course! This series has pretty much everything I look for in a fantasy book: a strong female lead, a good bit of magic, and just enough romance to be pleasing (meaning it doesn't totally overshadow the plot). This formula is true for most of Pierce's books and for me it never gets old. All of the characters are wonderful and the pace is perfect. I've read the series over and over again and I never get bored. All in all, a good read.
This brings me to another of her series, also lovely: the Wild Magic series. Daine has a most unusual power: the ability to talk to animals. After tragedy strikes and leaves her alone in the world but for her horse, Daine has to find way to survive. Armed with a horse for a friend and her unusual gift, she goes off in search of a job. Little does she know what the future holds for her. Again, a wonderful series from a wonderful author. I think this book is what really got me into the whole fantasy section. I think all of Pierce's books are great, though there are still some I haven't read. She's a great author and her books don't disappoint!
Lastly, and from what I can tell a little less well known, there is the Pellinor series by Alison Croggon. This series features a girl named Maerad who grows up as something of a slave with no chance of escape. That is until she finds a mysterious stranger sleeping in the barn, a man who could not possibly have gotten in unnoticed. So where has he come from and why is he sleeping in a barn of all places? This series reminds me a lot of Tamora Pierce's books. If you enjoyed them then you should enjoy these immensely. I was ecstatic when I discovered the series and recommend it to anyone who enjoys these sorts of things. The books have all of their own lore and a very well developed world. I can't imagine how long it took to think up!
I hope you found this information helpful! Feedback is welcome!
Catherine

Starting Up

So, I just created this blog today and I plan on reviewing the books I read. I'll probably give brief summaries of the books, point out some flaws and good points, give book recommendations for similar books, and give ratings for originality, believability of characters, how engaging they are, and whatever else I find important. My reviews will probably vary somewhat in quality and depth, so if you have any further questions feel free to ask! Book recommendations are always welcome too. Just to let you know what kind of things you'll find here, I'll tell you all what kind of books I read.

The majority of the books I read are fantasy; you know, magic and stuff. However, I do quite enjoy fiction so you'll probably see a fair bit of that as well. I might also dabble in some other kinds of books. We'll see what I get to. Oh, and most importantly, the books I read nearly always feature a strong female lead. So, that's about it. I'll start reviewing books soon. I might even go back through books I read a while go and rate some of those. If you have any suggestions of what I can do to improve this blog, please let me know!

Catherine